60 Songs That Explain the '90s

Pack up your winter gear—we’re headed to the Wisconsin woods. This week, Rob retreats into Justin Vernon’s cabin to remember the buzzy indie album ‘For Emma, Forever Ago,’ which launched the career of the eventual Grammy-winning band Bon Iver. He looks back on how critics and audiences were enamored with the narrative that Vernon wrote the album while heartbroken and alone in the woods, and the way his voice conveyed those feelings. Later, Rob’s joined by The New York Times’ Jon Caramanica to discuss if “Skinny Love” possibly led to “stomp-clap” music and what collaborators like Kanye West and Taylor Swift heard in Bon Iver.

(00:00) Intro: Neko Case’s voice as a force of nature

(30:19) This week’s song: “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver

(32:36) Justin Vernon’s (many) early bands

(48:29) Bon Iver’s abstract lyrics

(55:05) “Skinny Love” and the narrative of ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’

(01:04:57) Interview with Jon Caramanica

(01:33:25) Outro

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Jon Caramanica

Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie

CONNECT

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/60songsthatexplainthe90s

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@60songsthatexplainthe90s

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are bad lyrics good lyrics? That’s the question Rob posits as he tackles the Black Eyed Peas, who may have mastered the art of good-bad songwriting. He looks back on how the Peas jumped from hip-hop to pop after they added Fergie to their crew, until they ultimately hit dance music in 2009—but they maintained their goofy sensibility the whole way. Later, Rob’s joined by columnist Leslie Gray Streeter to discuss the merits of “My Humps” and why “I Gotta Feeling” has come to represent the Obamacore era.

(00:00) Intro: Lyrics so bad that ... maybe they're good?

(21:12) This week’s song: “I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eyed Peas

(24:57) BEP’s early hip-hop days

(39:05) Shifting to pop and recruiting Fergie

(51:54) The wonderfully dumb ‘The E.N.D.’ and “I Gotta Feeling”

(01:00:24) Interview with Leslie Gray Streeter

(01:32:58) Outro

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Leslie Gray Streeter

Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie

CONNECT

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/60songsthatexplainthe90s

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@60songsthatexplainthe90s

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

She sings both kinds of music—country and Western—and you better be grateful for it. Lee Ann Womack followed in the footsteps of icons like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette, but she took even greater inspiration from male country stars like George Jones. After making a name for herself with her captivating tunes, Womack reckoned with love and faith on the beautiful—and melancholy?—"I Hope You Dance," which became a crossover hit and Womack's signature song. Rob is joined by music journalist Marissa R. Moss, who discusses what Womack faced as a woman in country music during the late '90s and 2000s and the selflessness it takes to write a love song to someone who is leaving your life.

(00:00) Intro: The Blues Brothers go to Bob's Country Bunker

(24:19) Remembering Dolly Parton

(38:11) This week's song: "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack

(41:02) Womack's early tracks and the state of country in the late '90s

(57:28) Is "I Hope You Dance" a sad or happy song?

(01:05:27) Interview with Marissa R. Moss

(01:33:12) Outro

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Marissa R. Moss

Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie

Power up your play with Nintendo Switch 2.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/60songsthatexplainthe90s/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@60songsthatexplainthe90s?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

She sings both kinds of music—country and Western—and you better be grateful for it. Lee Ann Womack followed in the footsteps of icons like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette, but she took even greater inspiration from male country stars like George Jones. After making a name for herself with her captivating tunes, Womack reckoned with love and faith on the beautiful—and melancholy?—"I Hope You Dance," which became a crossover hit and Womack's signature song. Rob is joined by music journalist Marissa R. Moss, who discusses what Womack faced as a woman in country music during the late '90s and 2000s and the selflessness it takes to write a love song to someone who is leaving your life.

(00:00) Intro: The Blues Brothers go to Bob's Country Bunker

(24:19) Remembering Dolly Parton

(38:11) This week's song: "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack

(41:02) Womack's early tracks and the state of country in the late '90s

(57:28) Is "I Hope You Dance" a sad or happy song?

(01:05:27) Interview with Marissa R. Moss

(01:33:12) Outro

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Marissa R. Moss

Producers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie

Power up your play with Nintendo Switch 2.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/60songsthatexplainthe90s/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@60songsthatexplainthe90s?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s been [redacted] years since our last mailbag episode, and Rob is finally back to answer all your burning questions about the ’90s, 2000s, and more. He’s joined by Bandsplain’s Yasi Salek to discuss everything from Jason Mraz to Weird Al to chain restaurants. Tune in to hear their responses to your queries (as well as Yasi’s plea for a Fuel episode).

(00:00) Intro with Yasi Salek(07:57) Opening the mailbag: What is a “goth”?(17:25) Which songs explain the 2020s so far?(28:36) Which episode would you do over?(35:26) Thoughts on Weird Al and regrettable hot takes(57:48) Favorite eras of music and ’90s artists Rob’s grown to love(01:11:08) Questions about chain restaurants, surprises from the podcast, and living in Ohio(01:30:48) Final question: Are you scared of Swifties?

Power up your play with Nintendo Switch 2.

CONNECTInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/60songsthatexplainthe90sTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@60songsthatexplainthe90s

Host: Rob HarvillaGuest: Yasi SalekProducers: Julianna Ress, Chris Sutton, Justin Sayles, and Olivia Crerie
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices